Sweden investigates possible Baltic Sea cable sabotage, tensions rise

Swedish authorities have launched an investigation into suspected sabotage of an undersea telecom cable in the Baltic Sea, following a series of damage incidents linked to heightened security concerns after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The damaged cable, owned by Finnish telecom provider Cinia, connects Finland and Germany and has experienced multiple damages in recent months, with the latest incident reported on February 20. While Cinia confirmed minor damage that did not affect functionality, the Swedish coast guard has deployed a vessel to investigate the situation further. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the seriousness of these incidents in the context of current security tensions. NATO has increased its presence in the region as previous damages have raised alarms, with some attributing these incidents to hybrid attacks and others suggesting they may stem from accidents involving civilian ships. Despite the ongoing investigations, no suspects have been identified so far.